[The following strokes of genius were kindly shared with us by Happy Cow's good friend Simon Drew. When he is not busy articulating articles, Simon can be found particularising particles, decanting canticles, manipulating manicles and running the online groups English Stuff and International Monthly Hatstand Day. If Simon's poem stroked your silence or silenced your stroking, why not leave a comment at the bottom of this page. You can sign in to the comments widget using your Facebook or Google accounts, or just leave a message without signing in. Or if the clock is about to strike midnight, just click on the 'Like' button instead. Enjoy!]
Trucks snoring on the highway
iron towers holding up the sky
between the dots of sound
music is not the muse
but the silence between the strokes
traffic lights in rhythm
and red eyed tail lights against the bitumen
a glowing bead behind tinted glass
a universe 5 feet across
the smoke of melodies filling this chamber
like a Dutch oven
the carpet laid down
across the feet , behind the stairs
wooden, lined with stone
bird is waiting on the roof
three flowers in its beak
if you are not careful they will be your gift
in the hand crumpled
before the wind of dawn returns
rushing with it gold across the lawns
before the cracks of twigs and branches once more
cut up the sky
the watery eye will keep watch
over those on fire
and those drowning in the memories of flames
the pyre has not been lit
yet is burning in anticipation of the marriage
mourners are already gathering in front of the temple
a procession of lies and verse line the river
walking, foot before foot
waking, each memory a crushed blessing
releasing its fragrance
freckles on the lizard's back
as it scales the wall
the dance of rubber and steel
tomato sauce falling from the pie
staining the sweaty singlet
a crash, a load of cymbals
the exhaust, an oboe
floating foundations
rotten fruit of ministries
fertilising the roots
of new trees, from carbon the silica
the alien forests which feel most like home
the crystal pillow, finally resting
fingers playing across his face
pushing back the hair from his brow
the moan plummets into the depths
resonates in the cavern
sparkling fissures
and where the sparks fall
a devil rises, grabbing the pregnant air
and again sleeps
before it even awoke
speaking with words of mud
like rainbows crashing through the whole spectrum
chromatic harmony, a ghost in the birds throat
will not it stop singing
long after all oxygen has left the earth
and the volcanos have erupted for the last time
the wreckage left in the strata
lizard men ponder the wisdom
of random steps in a dance
twirling, on the spot
drifting, the burning scars of angel dust on their lips
again memories with no urn to carry them
a thousand petals flying off in a sudden gust
landing on the cliff face
handholds which dissolve like snow falling on the winter sea
words, burning arrows
also drifitng over the four corners
grim kings regard each other the board
anticipating the beginning of another game
each moment the squares change colour
and a new field is born
sometimes steps on solid ground
realise openings to the ocean
just at the moment when it was not sought
this water world
floating across the seven heavens
eternally orbiting,
cucumber slices on the plate, smiling
full of ginger, and the cool fire of ice
lain still over the shattered plate
the pregnant seeds of mirrors
comets, and shooting stars
liquid diamond, forever
pouring out to fill
the always hungry void
never digested
lonely calls find no connection
joining the dance, whether they like it or not
the unborn dance, of dust twirling
around, abound, no sound
in this devastating racket
deep in the boiler room
"In nature nothing is at standstill, everything pulsates, appears and disappears. Heart, breath, digestion, sleep and waking - birth and death - everything comes and goes in waves. Rhythm, periodicity, harmonious alternation of extremes is the rule. No use rebelling against the very pattern of life." Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj
The Happy Cow website and all articles on it are created entirely voluntarily and free of charge. However, if you feel that anything on the site has been of value to you, you may wish to make a voluntary contribution to the upkeep of the site. Click on the 'Donate' button below.
If you have an inspiring tale or some interesting philosophy to share with us, please feel free to e-mail your ideas to
contributions@happycow.org.uk.
